Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-11-23
UNCLE MS ARMY !.
Routine and Discipline Of Life at
the Various Posts.

A Comprehensive Description Of the Duties
| of Regular SOldiers-An Existence
| Which IL Not rs Sweet rs Many
Seem to Think.
To many people life at the various forts
and military stations throughout the coun-
try is as sealed book, says the New York
Tins. The laws and regulations govern
ing the army, however, are clearly defined
and comprehensive, and many of them have
remained unchanged since the founding Of
tho Government. Like all of Gaul the
geographical limits Of military jurisdiction
are divided into three parts, known as the
military divisions of the Atlantic, the Mis-
souri, and the Pacific, each commanded by
Major-General of the army These grand
divisions comprise the whole territory OF
the country. The division headquarters are
at Governors Island, Chicago and San
Francisco, respectively. The army consists
Of twenty-five regiments of infantry, ten Of
cavalry, and five of artillery, battalion of
engineers, consisting Of four companies,
and detachment Of ordnance. The Ninth
and Tenth regiments of cavalry and the
Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth regiments
OF infantry are colored soldiers. These
regiments are in all respects on the same
| military footing as all others. The non
commissioned officers are selected and pro-
NOTED from the ranks of their own regi-
| ments and the commissioned officers are
assigned to the regiments as vacancies
| occur. Each colored egiment has chap
! lain.
A detailed description of the duties of
soldiers, even in peace times, would require
! too much time and space, but a general idea
of the daily routine will correct the errone-
GUS impression so generally entertained
that soldiers life is one of idleness. Re-
veills is sounded at or near sunrise, the ex-
| act time varying somewhat at different
posts. At the first note the garrison flag
| is hoisted. All soldiers on duty must turn
out in ranks at this and all other roll-calls.
Drill for an hour or more follows soon
after at time fixed by the commanding Of
| fcer. The ceremony of guard mounting
takes place at nine O'clock; fatigue call
comes next in order (the sick call which in
tervenes, not being, of course, call for
duty, when such men consisting of the old
guard and others designated in turn per-
form the necessary fatigue and police duty
of the post. At eleven o'clock first SER
geant's call is sounded, when these func-
| tionaries repair to the Adjutant's Office for
the perfecting Of the rolls of the sergeant
major, thus enabling him to keep his roster
correctly, and also to receive such informa-
ton and instructions as may be necessary
concerning their troops, batteries or CON-
panieS. Dinner is at noon. At an hour des-
ignated by the postrcommander afternoon
dril. call is sounded, when the troops exer-
else In such maneuvers as are prescribed.
Dress parade usually takes place just
before sunset, and is so timed that
retreat is sounded just after the
''troop beats'' off during that ceremony. The
flag is lowered at the last note of retreat.
Supper soon follows dress parade. Tattoo
roll-call is at nine o'clock, and taps or lights
out a half an hour later. While attendance
at religious ceremonies is not compulsory in
the army, many of the men attend Divine
service at those posts-of which there are
thirty-four-that have chaplains, and more
observance is given to the day than was the
case in former years. ..&5
Men are detailed for guard duty with such
frequency as the strength of the force at
the post where they are stationed renders
necessary. There are three reliefs of apre-
scribed number of men, with one corporal
to each relief and one sergeant of the guard.
Two hours on one post and four hours off,
uuI1AS CAAS COuI VI tWcuGy-1Oui uOuio, ID buo
unvarying routine. Each sentinel is in
structed by the officer of the guard, who is
Lieutenant, under authority of the officer
of the day, Ito take charge of this post and
all Government property IN view; salute all
officers according to rank; in case of fire
alarm the guard,'' and such other orders as
are deemed necessary are given. The Or
der is given to the sentry on No. Ito turn
out the guard for all general officers. the
commanding officer, the officer of the day,
and for all armed parties" Any breach of
discipline while on guard is an aggravation
of the Offense, and it behooves the soldier to
have his wits about HIM and to attend strict
ly to duty during his tour. Guard duty is,
like the reading of the Koran, an endless
task.
Our military posts are in many instances
isolated communities in themselves, and in
many respects as different from civilian
settlements or villages as can well be mag
med. There are postrschools, at which en-
listed soldiers can, if so disposed, pick up a
fair common-school education during one
term of enlistment. The subject of compul-
sorry education in the army has been ex-,
haustively discussed of late, and so accom-
plished an officer as Brevet Major-General
James B. Fry has given it as his opinion
that enlisted men should not be compelled
against their wills to attend post schools.
About ten years ago James A. Garfield and
Robert Schenck, while serving on the Com
mittee on Military Affairs in the House of
Representatives, prepared clause in the
revised statutes, section 1881, which after
ward became law, and which is as follows:
SCHOOLS shall be established at all posts,
garrisons or permanent camps, at which the
enlisted men may be instructed In the common
English branches of education, and especially
in the history of the United States; and the
Secretary OF War may detail such officers and
enlisted men as may be necessary to carry out
this provision, ETC." s-fsa
School hours for soldiers are from half an
hour after retreat until tattoo roll-call. The
post schools are not at present kept up to
the standard of excellence intended by the
provisions of the law, and at many posts
the letter of the law alone is observed.
The men of the army have various amuse-
ments, which, however, vary much at diff
ferent posts. Amateur theatricals and
musical performances are of frequent oc-
cIrrenca at some during the winter, mor%ho